Arab stock markets experienced a significant uptick in trading activity in July, with the volume of shares traded rising by 28.82% compared to June. This surge brought the total trading volume to 261.86 billion shares, up from 203.27 billion shares the previous month. The Iraq Stock Exchange played a pivotal role in this increase, closely followed by Egypt’s market. However, this rise in trading volume did not correspond with the value of transactions, which saw a decline.
In contrast to the increased share volume, the overall value of transactions fell by 16.82%, dropping to $90.24 billion in July from $108.48 billion in June. Several key markets, including those in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait, contributed to this decline in transaction value. Despite the mixed results in transaction values, some regional stock markets showed positive performance during the month.
Among the regional exchanges, Egypt’s EGX30 index stood out as a strong performer, gaining 5.85% over the month. A few other regional exchanges also posted gains, though the overall market performance was varied. This divergence highlights the complex dynamics at play within the Arab stock markets, where increased activity does not necessarily translate into higher transaction values.
The combined market capitalization of Arab stock exchanges remained relatively stable, with a slight increase of 0.06%, bringing the total to approximately $4.31 trillion. This stability in market capitalization, alongside the increased trading activity, underscores the resilience of the region’s equity markets in the face of fluctuating transaction values.
These figures reflect a dynamic trading environment across Arab markets in July, marked by higher trading volumes but tempered by a decrease in transaction values and varied market performances. The data points to an active investment landscape, driven by specific exchanges like Iraq and Egypt, even as broader market challenges persist.